Banjo.



PATBNTED APR. 7, 1903.

W. B. FARMER.

BANJO.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1902..

N0 MODEL.

' IN VENTOR ZIZZZZ'aM/fl 25m WITNESSES.

A TTOHNE Y8.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. FARMER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BANJO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 724,833, dated April 7, 1903.

Application filed, September 26, 1902. Serial No. 124,758. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, if; nut/y concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. FARMER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Banjo, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to banjos and like musical instruments in which strings extend over a stretched membrane.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved banjo or similar musical instrument arranged to produce an exceedingly fine melodious tone when the instrument is played.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective View of the improvement, part of the membrane being broken out. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the banjo-body. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the same. Fig. A is a plan view of the same, parts of the membrane being broken out; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section of the improvement.

The banjo shown in Fig. 1 consists of a body A, a neck B, a head 0, and strings D, extending over a bridge E, set on top of a membrane F. The body A is provided with a rim G, in the top of which are set spaced pins 11, having inwardly-projecting arms H, preferably extending radially and forming a support for the metallic or resonant ring I, over which the membrane F is stretched, as plainly indicated in Figs. 2 and 5. Directly over the pins H is arranged a ring J of less diametrical cross-section, so that the top of the ring I lies in a higher plane than the top of the ring J, it being understood that the said rings I and J are spaced one from the other and preferably arranged concentrically, as plainly indicated in Fig. 4. The membrane F after passing over the ring I also passes over the ringJ and then connects with awire K, engaged bya tightening-ring L, connected with the usual means N for drawing the membrane tight on the body A. Now by the arrangement described the ring I is freely supported on the inner or free ends of the arms H, independent of the ring J, so that the principal vibration of the membrane F takes place on the portion within the ring I, as the latter is freely supported on the free ends of the arms H and it is evident that an exceedinglyfine harmonious tone is produced when the strings D are played in the usual manner.

It is understood that the ring J serves as a retaining-ring for holding the pins H in position in the rim G, the said ring J being located in vertical alinement with the rim G, while the ring I is arranged somewhat inside of the ring J and rim G.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A musical instrument having a body provided with a rim, a retaining-ring above the top edge of the rim, a resonant ring concentric to the retaining-ring and spaced from the inner side thereof, and a membrane stretched over both rings and fastened at its outer edge to the rim, as set forth.

2. A musical instrument having a body provided with a rim, a retaining-ring above the top edge of the rim, a resonant ring concentric to the retaining-ring and spaced from the inner side thereof, the top of the resonant ring lying in a higher plane than that of the outer ring, and a membrane stretched over both rings and fastenedat its outer edge to the rim, as set forth.

' 3. A musical instrument having a body provided with a rim, a retaining-ring above the top edge of the rim, a resonant ring concentric to the retaining-ring and spaced from the inner side thereof, a membrane stretched over both rings and fastened at its outer edge to the rim, and means for holding the outer edge of the membrane in position on the outside of the said rim, as set forth.

4.. A musical instrument having a body comprising a rim, pins held in the rim and having inwardly-extending arms, a resonant name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM B. FARMER.

ring held on the free ends of the arms, a retaining-ring outside the said resonant ring and lying over the pins, a membrane, and means for securing the membrane in position 5 on the rim and holding the same stretched over both rings, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my Witnesses:

T111110. G. HOSTER, EVERARD BOLTON MARSHALL. 

